ORANGE : School Board Sends Apology to Mayor

Mayor Don E. Smith received a written apology from the school board this week for recent remarks made by board members who had accused the City Council of “highway robbery” during a debate over proposals to hire security officers for high school campuses.

During discussion of a plan under which city police officers would be hired for the campuses for about $84,000, two board members of the Orange Unified School District accused the city of overcharging for police services.

Smith sent a letter to board President Jeff Holstien demanding an apology be made to the city and Police Department for the “inappropriate remarks.”

Board members Nancy L. Moore, Russell Barrios and John Hurley were also sent letters saying that their remarks had “undermined the good will and working relationship between the city and the school district.”

At last week’s board meeting, Holstien read a statement of regret that expressed appreciation for the city’s past support and submitted copies of the statement to the mayor and Police Chief Michael D. Parker.

Though relations between City Hall and the school board have begun to thaw, the mayor has requested a review of services to the school district.

Smith said the council does not intend to cut district funds because “we don’t want to hurt the kids.” Instead, the review will be a way to inform the public of the services the city supplies to the district.

“We want to work together for the good of the kids and the taxpayers and I’m certainly not going to throw that out,” Smith said.

About $430,000 worth of city services, including water service, salaries for crossing guards and DARE personnel and other programs, are subsidized for the district annually, Smith said.